Mom thanked Jesus after chokehold homicide ruling

NEW YORK — The mother of a New York man who was placed in a chokehold while in police custody says her first words on hearing his death had been ruled a homicide were "Thank you, Jesus."

Eric Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, said Saturday she was grateful for the medical examiner's report saying Garner's death was caused by a banned police maneuver.

Carr and other relatives joined the Rev. Al Sharpton in Harlem.

Sharpton announced an Aug. 23 march across the Verrazano Bridge between the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island to demand justice for Garner.

Garner died July 17 on Staten Island.

His videotaped arrest and final pleas of "I can't breathe!" sparked an outcry against the police.

Sharpton says the Staten Island district attorney should now move toward an arrest.

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